Turkey’s Erdogan Vows to Lift State of Emergency If Re-Elected

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to lift the state of emergency as the first thing after the June 24 elections if he is re-elected in a tightening race.

After his rivals unanimously coalesced around a central campaign bid to end the emergency rule, President Erdogan adopted a similar stance in most clear fashion.

“The first thing after the June 24 elections will be to lift the state of emergency,” the president said on Thursday 10 days before the election.

Presidential candidates of opposition parties railed against the emergency rule, and portrayed the regime as something destructive of democracy and rule of law.